Drawing-off mechanism for circular knitting machines



Sept. 11, 1951 J. JAvoREK 2,567,288

DRAWING-OFF' MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. l, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept.. l1, 1951 J. JAVORE 2,567,288

DRAWING-OFF MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. l, 1946 J. JAvoREK 2,567,288

G-oFF MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES sept. 11, 1951 DRAWIN Filed Nov. 1, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F/G I4.

Patented Sept 11, 1951 DRAWING-OFF MECHANISM FOR. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Jaroslav Javorek, Zln, Czechoslovakia, assigner to Bata, narodni podnik, Zlin, Czechoslovakia Application November 1, 1946, Serial No. '707,271 In Germany February 15, 1943 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires February 15, 1963 8 Claims.

This invention relates to drawing-01T mechanism for circular knitting machines adapted for knitting articles of hosiery in a continuous string, such machines being of the type in which the knitted material from a needle cylinder (which rotates for circular knitting and oscillatcs for oscillating knitting) passes between a pair of stepwise rotatable drawing-off rollers which are connected to the machines driving mechanism for operation thereby.

In drawing-ofi mechanism hitherto used for circular knitting machines of the double cylinder type, the drawing-oil rollers move circularly in unison with the needle cylinder and the knitted material-that is, they rotate bodily about the needle-cylinder axisonly during circular knitting, whilst during oscillating knitting, that is when knitting heels and toes, they remain in a stationary location. During the oscillation motion, in a known -construction of such machines, the drive of the drawing-off rollers is interrupted in such a way that the drawing-oli mechanism together with the usual fabric-protection drum are uncoupled from the drive of the oscillating needle cylinder.

An object of the present invention is to avoid the disadvantages of known drawing-oliF mechanisms by providing an auxiliary device which during oscillation of the needle cylinder can be set to impart stepwise rotation to the drawingofi rollers.

Another object of the invention is to provide drawing-off mechanism for circular knitting machines having for the driving of its drawing-off rollers an auxiliary actuating device which can be put into Aor out of action during the oscillatory motion of the needle cylinder, the auxiliary device acting in substitution for the then inactive main actuating device.

Another object of the invention is to provide drawing-ofi mechanism for a circular-knitting machine of the type including a needle cylinder,

Vgearing for oscillating said cylinder and drawing- 01T rollers as a unitary assembly about the cylinder axis, said mechanism to have a part moving toand-fro with said gearing in timed relationship with said cylinder (this movement being additional to the oscillation), an auxiliary actuating device which is operatively connected to said rollers and is adapted to move to-and-iro with vsaid part and to turn said rollers about their own axis when said device moves to-and-fro; and control mechanism which can be moved to engage Asaidfdevice and hold it at rest during the opera- CJI tion of said gearing and movement of said part therewith.

The auxiliary device according to the invention may comprise an arm adapted to be rocked about an axis spaced from the axis of movement of a pin provided conveniently on the knittingma-chines usual quadrant gear, namely a geartoothed segment, such pin constituting the aforesaid part, and may be formed with a hooked end engageable by said pin when said device moves toand-fro in unison therewith, the arrangement being such that said pin forces said device to move additionally and transmit a turn to the drawing-off rollers. The hooked end and carrier pin move or tend to move in divergent arcuate paths, the divergence defining the stroke of a pawl which is operated by said device to actuate ratchet-mechanism for turning the drawing-off rollers.

The drawing-off mechanism may include a lever controlled by the usual controlling drum of the knitting machine, and said lever may carry a spring-urged member having a slide-surface which is forced against a pin on the auxiliary device, the arrangement being such that when the lever is turned by the controlling drum said member holds the device temporarily inoperative in its rest position. f

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of parts of a circular knitting machine including the drawing-off mechanism and an auxiliary device for operating it.

Fig. 2 isa side elevation corresponding to Fig. 1, being-in the direction of the arrow II thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a detail of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail of Fig. 2, being drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2.

The known drawing-off mechanism comprises two drawing-01T rollers I, 2, which are borne by a support in the form of a bracket 3 and are spring-urged against each other. The rollersr I, 2 are turnable around their longitudinal axes 4, being mechanically inter-connected by the usual pair of similar gearwheels, one only of which is shown, being indicated by IA in Fig. 2. Thus, when the roller I is constrained to turn as hereinafter explained-the roller 2 will turn to the same extent, but in the opposite direction, so that the rollers will draw the gripped knitted material 5 downwards. The usual material protection drum or receptacle 6 is provided below the rollers I, 2 on the one drawing-oli roller I there is xed outside of the bracket 3 a ratchet wheel1, in which engages a pawl 8 on a twoarmed lever 9, which is fulcrummed under theY ratchet wheel 'l on a pin I9 on the bracket 3. Between the pawl 8 and the pin Ill there is screwed-to the-lever 9 alpin I on which a holder I2 is pivotally mounted, beingV held in place by means of a cotter pin I3.

The pin II is provided as the usual support for4 i a usual actuating roller (not shown) by means of which the main or normal device (also not shown) for actuating the drawing-01T rollers is pivot pin II, the end I5 tending to follow an4 arcuate path I. The pull-rodis secured to the holder` by ymeans of a lock-nut I6 againstrunscrewing. A tension spring which'v is connected -at one end to an arm of the lever 9 and at the 'other end to the bracket 3, has the task of urging downwards the longer arm of the lever 9 so far that it abuts against a camlike incline Ill/The pawl 8 is connected by means of atension: spring with a detent 20 which is pivotally mounted on the side wall of the bracket 3 and prevents turning back of the drawing-off roller I.

A pinion 26 isjournalled on the main shaft 25 but can be coupled thereto. This pinion meshes with the teeth of the usual toothed segment or so-calledjquadrant gear 2|, which is oscillated vconstantly during the operation of the machine by the usual rotary transmission shaft (not shown), a gear-wheel 22 thereon and a connectingrod 23, which links a crank-pin 22A on the wheel 22 to a pin 22B on the body of the segment`2l.' The journal or axle 24 of the segment 2| is borne by the machine frame 24A (Fig. 4). It is'through the pinion 26, the main shaft 25 and intermeshing bevel wheels 21, 28 that the needle cylinder 29 of the knitting machine receives its oscillating motion. The journal'24 is adjustable f in relation to the. pin of the holder I2. An actuating part in the' form of a carrier pin 30 arranged. on one side of the toothed segmentV 2| moves, around the journal 24 in an arcuate path II, which crosses the arcuate path I of the hooked end I5. The distance .r between the two paths de'nesA the stroke of the means for driving the drawing-off rollers I, 2. The holder I2, under the pull of a spring 3| connected at one end to it, holds the pull-rod 4 against the carrier pin 30, the spring 3| being anchored at its other end to the llever 9.

The machine has control mechanism for starting: and stopping the operationof the drawing-oli` rollersr 2 during oscillating knitting. This mechanism includes a-pin 32 at the upper end of thef'holder V| 2 of the pivotal-arm device. This mechanism also includes, to cooperate with the pin-32, a bellcrankilever 33, a controlling drum 34 and av lockingpart'SS fastened thereon. One arm 36 of the bellcrank lever 33, which is journal1ed-on -the frame-24A, Slidably engages at its endf-3I 'either Ionthe ylocking part 35 or on the upper-surface of lthecontrolling drum 34. In thebtherarm 38 of the lever 33 a pin 39 is fixed` onfwhicha carrier40 ispivotally mounted. A member 42 adjustablyl connected by screws 4| to the'carrier 49 is provided with two-slide surfaces 43 and 44 and is pulled vby av spring 45 towards a pin' 46 `projecting from'the lever arm 38. The

tension spring 45, which is connected on the one hand to the pin 46 on the lever arm 38 and on the other hand to the member 42, forces the slide surface y44 -of the member 42 against the pin 32 of the holder I2 (see Fig.'1) whereby the holder |2 is held in the rest position A. Thus, the pull-rod |4 of the pivotal-arm device is held stationary, and free from the influence of the pinj30.

A complete motion of the carrier pin 3D from the restposition A to the opposite limit position B corresponds-to a. revolution of the needle cylinder 29 or to the knitting of a row of stitches which is pulled: forward by the auxiliary device I2, I4, I5 whenv thelocking part 35 is inactive. The returnihmotiont-of ythe carrier pin 30 corresponds again to a revolution of the needle cylinder 29 in the reverse direction or the knitting of a further row of stitches, which is not pulled forward. From this it is obvious that a forwardpulling action. occurs everysecond row.'

The machine includes meanshitherto usual-in double-cylinder"seamless-hose machines', for rotating the bracket 3, the drawing-off rollers' I, 2 and associated parts Yand the knitted-material drum 6, all as a unitary assembly'in unison with the needle cylinder 29. YThe means "shown, in Figs. 1 and2` comprise a two-partside shaft'41, 48 journalled'in the stationary frame 24A,- intertmeshing gearwheels 49 and 50 on theneedle'cylinder 29 and part-shaft 41 respectively, intermeshingfgearwheels-SI and 52 on thev part-shaft and bracket 3 respectively, .a clutch element 53 xedrto the parti-shaft, a matingclutch ele- 'mentv 54 slida'ble on the part-shaft 48 under or against' thefpressure of aisprin'g Bland'a'handoperable'fork56 for operating the clutch element 54. Thefarrangement 4is such that .when Athe clutch 53,.;54 is closechthe bracket 3'rotates'in synchronismfwith ther cylinder 29; but, when .the clutch Vis operrgfthe bracket 3y remains at rest. Any Yappropriate?.means are provided forzlocking thebracketA 31when at restfin its properlocation in irelatiorr Vto the 4frame-.124A and other parts of the machine. As shown in Figs. 1 and2, the machine hassuch 4'means in theY form: of a withdrawable lockingpin 51 screwed through a stationary gear caseY 5B' which supports the sta'- tionaryV inclined' member I8, the pin'y 51 being engageable with aI locking hole provided for it in the gear wheel 52.

The operationfof thefdrawingso mechanism is as follows:

Duringthe'manufacture of regular hosiery ma.'- terial by circularknitting, the usual main actuating device` (not shown in Athe drawings) is operative' andrthe auxiliary actuating Adevice form.- ing the Ysubject of the presentv invention is inoperative. For this way of operating the machina-the holder I2 withthe 'rod I4 incorporated in the auxiliaryactuating*device is detached from thepin ,which carries instead the usual actuating roller (not shown) constituting the rmain actuating device; The spring-3| is then also detached. Thelocking pin 51 is withdrawn, and the clutch 53,54 is closed. rlfhus, the knitting cylinder 29 continuously rotates, as vis necessary in circular knitting, and the bracket -3 rotates with it; and the bracket carries with it the drawing-olf rollers I, 2 and the associated mechanism 'I to The'inclined lmember I8 however remains stationary, andl therefore acts in the usual well-known" way as a cam on the saidY actuating remain stationary,

the. pull of the spring position B, lifts the .mum distance 'constrained by the action of :'rou'nd the ratchet-wheel 1 and the drawing-off I' rollers I, 2.

g auxiliary actuating mechanism. The clutch 53,

4 is opened and the locking In operation, the knitting cylinder is oscillated by the toothed segment 2| 21 and 28, but the bracket pin 51 is inserted.

and gearwheels 26, 3 and the fabricand the mechanism 1 to I I all with the result that the inclined member I8 is inoperative.

,In the knitting of the heel a or toe b of a stocking. foot, the end 31 of the bellcrank lever 33 bears upon the locking part 35 of the controlling drum 34, as Fig. 1 shows so that the slide-surface 44 of the member 42 presses against the pin 32 under 45, and the holder I2 is heldin the rest position A. The hook-shaped end I5 of the pull-rod I4 is at that time above protection drum 6 'f .the actuating part constituted by the carrier pin 30,750 that the latter can freely swing out of the rest position Arinto theA active positionB and yback again.

After the iinish of the knitting of a heel or toe and following the turning of the controlling fdrum 34, the end`31 of the bellcrank lever 33 slides from the locking part 35 so that the slidesurface 44 of the member 42 releases the pin of the holder I2. The spring 3I connected to the holder' I2 causes the holder I2 and the hook- `,ended pull-rod carrier pin30 from A to B. As the pin 30 moves the arcuate path II, the radius of which is in smaller than the radius of the circular path I,

the pin after leaving its rest position A gradually reaches the hook-shaped end until it fully en- The carrier pin 30, on its further reaching the opposite limit hook-shaped end I5 the maxi- I so that the holder I2, overcoming the resistance oftheV spring I1, turns the gages this. n l motion Vand before lever 9 vupwards about the fulcrum pin `III and the pawl 8 turns the ratchet-wheel 1 and so the formerlystationary drawing-oitroller I is the pin 30 to rotate a step around its longitudinal axis 4. This rotational motion is transmitted to the other drawing-off roller 2, so that the knitted material,

turning to-and-fro with the needle cylinder 29 and gripped between the rollers I and 2, is pulled downwards into the material protection drum 6.

On the return of the carrier pin 30 from `B to lA the vhook-shaped end I5 remains engaged with the carrier pin 30 under the 'pull of the spring I1, so that the pull-rod I4 sinks with the holder I2 and lever 9 and the pawl 8 slides idly over the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 1 within pulling the material forward. As soon as the position A is reached the grip between the carrier pin 30 and the hook I5 is loosened, and the tension spring 3I holds the pull-rod I4 against the carrier pin 30 until the motion from A to B recurs.

Before the beginning of the knitting of a heel a. or toe b, on rotation of the controlling drum 34 the end 31 of the bellcrank lever 33 slides upon the locking part 35, so that the arm 38 of the lever 33 moves downwards and one of the two slide-surfaces 43, 44 bears upon the backwards and forwards swinging pin 32 of the holder I2. If for example the holder I2 or its pin 32 is performing the return motion from B to A, the pin 32 by the lifting of the spring-loaded member I 42 passes under theforward slide-surface 43 and reaches the rear slide-surface 44 which "holds the pin 32 fast in the restV position. The pullingforward action of the auxiliary device is thereby "interrupted Thereafter the carrier pin 30 of thetoothed segment 2I can perform unhin'dered itsis'winging motion until after the knitting of a heel or toe it again engages the hook-shaped "endl I5 in order to draw the material forward again. f

By adjusting the hook-ended rod I4 in the holder I2, the divergence .'L between the arcuate paths I and II vcan be regulated, thus regulating thestroke of the pawl 8 on the ratchet-wheel 1 and the extent of each rotational movement ot the drawing-off rollers I, 2. Thus the drawingoff action can be regulated to suit the length of the knitted stitches. I

The subject of the invention as illustrated by the drawings andexplained by the foregoing descriptiont 1s not to be considered as confined to the described embodiment, which can be altered -without departing from the spirit of the invention.v

For instance, it is not essential that the carrier pin v must be on the toothed segment 2l; it

[could be on the journal 24 so as to swing to and I4Y to follow the motion of the fro in unison with said segment.

I claim: e

1. Drawing-01T mechanism for circular knitting machines of the type including a needle cylinder capable of both rotary and oscillating knitting, gearing including an oscillating gear vmember for oscillating said cylinder, drawingoff rollers for the knitted material, a rotatable support for said rollers, and means for locking said supportl against rotation and holding `the support in a stationary location during oscillation of said cylinder; said mechanism comprising an actuating part connected to said gear member vto move lto-and-fro therewith in timed relation with oscillations transmitted thereby to the needle cylinder, a device used only during oscillating knitting, said device being mounted to move to-and-fro with said actuating part,

. an operating connection between said device and the drawing-01T rollers for rotating said rollers stepwise whensaid device moves to-and-fro, and

v control mechanism for stopping the operation of erative whilst said gearing is in operation during oscillating knitting.

,2. Drawing-off mechanism for circular knitting machines of the type including a Vneedle cylinder capable of both rotary and oscillating knitting, gearing including an oscillating geartoothed segment for oscillating said cylinder, drawing-off rollers for the knitted material, a rotatable support for said rollers, and means for locking said support against rotation and holding the support in a stationary location during oscillation of said cylinder; said mechanism comprising an actuating pin on the gear-toothed segment, said pin moving to-and-fro with said segment, a pivotal-arm device used only during oscillating knitting, said device being mounted to engage and move to-and-fro with said pin, an operating connection between said device and the drawing-off rollers for rotating said rollers stepwise when said device moves to-and-fro, and control mechanism for stopping the operation of said rollers by said device, which mechanism is movable to engage said device and hold it sta- 7 *ftinarilyl ire@ fromsaidfpin lwhilstfsaidfsegment v isflinfoperation.

SrDra'Wing-oi; mechanism' for circular J knit- "fting machines off the type including a needle f.: cylinder capablelof both rotary and oscillating knitting; gearing -including an oscillating gear i' memberfor 'oscillating said cylinder,- drawing-off rollers for the knitted-.material, a rotatable sup- Uportfor fsaid frollers,-and means for locating said support against rotation and holding the support in a stationary location during. oscillation of said ting,

4. Drawing-off 'mechanism for'circular knitting machines of the type including aneedle ""cylinder capable of4 both rotary and'oscillating knitting,` gearingl including a gear-toothed vsegmentthat o'scillates'aboutan axis to 'operate said cylinder, drawing-offv rollers for the knitted material, a rotatable support for said'rollers, and 1V"means for locating said support against rotation `V"and holding the support in a stationary location "di'ning-I oscillation of said cylinder; said mechavv"nism comprising an'actuating pinonV the gear- '-toothed segment, an arm used only during oscillating knittingsaid arm being pivotally connected to a pawl-lever, the axis of pivotal confnection ofsaid arm being' spaced from said seg- "'ments axis, a hook formation on saidarm for engagement-by said pin,` means urging said arm to maintain engagement with said pin an'd'swing v' i" in unison with said segment, said hook formation tending to describe an varcuate pathdiverging from an arcuate-path described 'by said pin, a

*il ratchet-mechanism for'driving the'draWing-oi f1 rollers, being operated by said paWl-lever in' the swinging of said arm, and control mechanism for stopping the operation of said rollers by said device, VWhich mechanism is movable to engage i* fsaid 'arm and hold it inoperative whilst said-gear- 'ing is in operationduring oscillatory knitting.

5L Drawing-'off mechanism as claimed by'claim 4in which the arm pivotally connected tothe paWl-lever comprises parts that are'lengthwise -iradjistable'for regulating the stroke ofthe pawl- I lever.

-v lDrawing-off mechanism" fory circular'v knitf8 =1-.ting machines.. oi the type including a, needle cylinder capable of both rotary and foscillating knitting, gearing :including an' oscillating- -gear A member for:oscillatingcsaidcylinder, drawing-,off 5 rollersI for i the .knitted material, a ,rotatable supfport -forsaid-rollers,.and means forlocating said :s fesupport lagainst rotation and v holding the. .sup- Yport in a-stationarylocation duringA oscillation of-said cylinder; said mechanism .comprising a 10' fdevicewmountedtomovev to-and-,frowith said .,.fgear member, a cdriving connection used :only during-oscillating. knitting, .said connection `being -interposed betweenfsaid :devices and rthe .drawingoff rollers for rotatingtsaid rollers stepwisewhen V said 4devicemovves to-.and-fro, and control mechamism: for rrendering-said device. either A. operative .or inoperative, said controlmechanismincluding alevenmovable.,intdoneor other or--two posi- -tionsf and aspring-urged ,A member onsaid lever for `engagingfsaid device in one of said-.positions and holdingY the device against movement/With said-gearing. g

y l,'7. .Drawing-011"mechanismasrclaimedhyclaim Bain .Whichsaiddevice .has a projection andi-said 25,-spring-.urged member has slide-surfaces. ionengaging said projection in movementothefdevice into inoperative position :and foreholding the de- ,-.vice 1 in that position.

8.-` DraWing-oi .l mechanism` for circular Yknittingamachines of the typeincluding a.,.needle cylinder l capable of Yboth, rotary Y and oscillatory knitting, gearing .formoscillating said v. cylinder, f drawing-off` rollers-r lfor` .the knitted -materiah a l -rotatablesupport for-said rollersnneans forlock- .ing vsaid rsupport against rotation .landrholding the-support ina stationaryilocationduring oscillationofpsaid cylinder..and amechanismfor. .rop f erating .I said .rollers said operatingV .mechanism Y including arrauxiliary.-actuating.-deviceusedonly ic -duringz oscillating.: knitting,` means moving Afwith :g lsaidfgearing and actingn ,said device to .actuate f--l-said"Y .operating .Ymechanism rand`v :control :means @acting onn said v. devicef-to. render, v,said 2 .operating `wmechanism, eithenoperative or :inoperative .whilst ifi-said cylinder-oscillating,gearing is.in .operation during oscillatory .knitting. l

,. JAROSLAV- J AVOREK.

k y|.\Tl.l!'l'1l)l`v g .Name Y .Date

Y. 1329.935 'Williams Mar. 2, 1915 Y 2,333,897 Southworth Nov. 9, 1943 

